Winter florals, leather shorts

This weekend was supposed to be pretty chilled - but only after kicking it off with Friday's work Halloween party, and running my first ever 5K on Saturday morning. So Sunday (as usual) was a time for relaxing, with a walk around the shops in Glasgow's west end. A perfect excuse to wear the tiny orange bag I showed you last week!

I also thought I'd rework this Topshop blouse for autumn by teaming it with leather shorts and new boots.....can you believe wear I got them from? Add in a bunny ring and we're ready to go. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Things I don't want to share:

Blouse and shorts: Topshop

Bag: River Island

Boots: Matalan

Watch: Michael Kors

Bunny ring: Me and Zena

Living in La La Land

Like many other UK cities, Glasgow is often overlooked for London when it comes to creative fashion talent. And while we might not have as many options when it comes to shopping for new and independent designers, we're not completely left in the cold up here.

We tend to need to work a little harder to uncover great shopping away from the high street - but with the independent fashion boutique LA LA LAND in our lives, the search is a little easier.

The store is nestled nicely into de courcey's arcade on Creswell Lane, amongst some other great independent shopping destinations - and stocks everything from cool clothes (you know your sister wont have an identical version of), to fashion books, magazines, art and jewellery. I'm a little bit in love with the Shona McGuiggan prints.

What I absolutely love about this store is that it is a self proclaimed 'blog shop', and sources stock from scouring fashion blogs for interesting designers. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's harboured fantasies about a shop version of my favourite fashion blog before. Now the dream is real baby. And the good news is that even if you don't live in Glasgow, you can still get in on the action on the La La Land website. Winner! 

The store's first birthday party and AW11 preview is open to all this Thursday, but for now here are some of my favourite pieces from the store:

Brat and Suzie T-shirt

Fabric hood

Gossip Girl paper doll

Cut out boots

Another lazy Sunday outfit. I only left the house for about two hours yesterday - to go to the noodle bar with my boyfriend, so I kind of threw this outfit together. But strangely enough I had the urge to wear these beautiful cream boots, which I am sad to say I have only worn three times.

I bought them to wear at two summer weddings last year, and despite loving them, I have always been too scared to wear them in case I got the suede dirty. Bit stupid, because now another summer has passed and I've missed my chance to wear them for another year. Why I decided this cold rainy day would be the perfect time to wear them again is anyone's guess. But I'm glad I did, because they go quite well with this otherwise scruffy ensemble. 

Also not sure what I'm planning to punch in the first picture. Myself for not wearing the boots enough? What items do you regret not wearing enough?

Things I don't want to share:

Blazer: H&M

Top: Topshop

Trousers and boots: Miss Selfridge

Ring: ASOS

Watch: Michael Kors

Bag: Dunnes

Nail polish: Both Models Own

Keepsakes: I want to ride my bicycle in PARIS

It's no secret how much I love Paris, and this necklace reminds me so much of my favourite city to visit. I've been there 5 times since I first visited three years ago, and have decided to go at least once a year for the rest of my life - dramatic but true. 

There are thousands of wonderful things to do in Paris, but some of my best memories there definitely involve cycling down the banks of the Canal St Martin, or being in awe of the beauty of Ladurée macaroons. Which is why this chain gets prize of place in one of their boxes. Who doesn't love a keepsake?

Things I don't want to share:

Box: Ladurée

Necklace: Accessorize (a gift from my friend Carolyn)

Jewel tones: Some new things for Autumn

When the seasons change I can't help but shop a little more - and this autumn I've been drawn towards lots of jewel tones and warm winter colours. Oh and good books, candles, cocktails and beauty products always help me look forward to staying in on cold winter nights.

I don't usually do the buy the book just before a movie release thing - but I'm glad I was tempted to with The Help, it's been a great read so far, and I can't wait to see how the film has turned out. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds the story quite eye opening - things have moved on a lot since the 1960s, and I'm incredibly glad we live in a more accepting world today. The film should help remind us to never stop standing up for equality in all walks of life.


You also might have noticed I went a little wild in River Island. I've not always been a big fan - but this year the stock has been tremendous. I have literally been marching round the store in five minutes, only to leave with some beautiful, yet madly impractical purchases - sky high heels and Blackberry sized bags anyone?

Things I don't want to share:

Raspberry skirt, orange bag and green high heels: River Island

Ring My Bella perfume: Benefit

Cinamon scented candle: Ikea

Book: Penguin

Eye pallet: YSL 

Nail polish: Nails Inc 'Bruton Street'

Holiday Clothes: Beautiful Malta

I recently spent a few days in beautiful Malta - a last minute chance to make the most of the summer wardrobe I spent many months choosing before one week in Ibiza in July. And as Glasgow's not the best place to invest in summer outfits, the clothes have been subjected to a lonely life - so I was mega excited to get the suitcase out before I went. Here's a quick photo diary of what I wore and what I did (which besides sunbathe and drink cocktails, was not very much - AMAZING).

Things I don't want to share:

Kimono, bow sandals, floppy hat: River Island

Both pairs of denim shorts: Topshop

Stripey dress: Primark

Cream bag: Vintage

Sunglasses: H&M

Ibiza Rocks T-shirt (Malta does too): Ibiza Rocks

New bag: Shopping at eight in the morning

It's not often I feel the urge to shop at 8.30am, but this morning was an exception. I returned from a little holiday in Malta on Thursday (photos to follow) and having spent a few days in the sun, was not happy to awake to a monsoon style downpour this morning. Especially as I realised far too late that I was wearing the wrong shoes, and had to face holding them under the hand dryer upon my arrival at work.

So when I took my usual short-cut to the train station (through Primark) I was feeling far more susceptible to the lure of cheap clothes than usual. Which is why when this bag caught my eye, I just had to have it. And since the weather shows no sign of cheering up any time soon, I've decided to use my lunch break remind myself of my morning pick-me-up by blogging about it. Photo taken with a Blackberry at my desk, so excuse the quality. What do you think? 

Things I don't want to share:

Bag: Primark

Sleep Tight: Okay I went back to Ikea

Oh but three posts ago I told you about my little trip to Ikea - and how I was strictly not buying anything because of an impending move.

But I went back. Once I helped her build it up, I realised that my sister's bed was pretty comfy. And looked quite nice too. So I went and bought one. It's not as frivolous as it seems though - my old bed was about as old and uncomfortable as it gets, and I plan to take this with me when I move. So it's really just planning ahead....

Anyway, it gave me a chance to style up my room a little, and these are the results:

As you can see, it's shamelessly girly, but in six months it's grown up time - so I'll need to cut down on the kitch and hold back on the...things with faces. But for now I'm keeping it this way. Notice board and all.

Things I don't want to share:

Bed, sheets, square pillows, lamp: Ikea

Donut pillow: Kidrobot

Russian dolls: vintage

Bunny ornament: Urban Outfitters

Fan: River Island

You shook me all night long.....

Last Monday was a day off for some of us in Glasgow, and what better way to spend a public holiday than at a museum exhibition about AC/DC? Yes I am aware of the irony in the latter part of that sentence.

The exhibition is currently making a stop at the Kelvingrove art gallery, and features a lot of original photography, outfits and (my favourite) hilarious handwritten notes home from tours. No photographs were allowed in the exhibition, and although I was tempted to sneak a few, it was quite liberating to cut the ties with my camera for an hour while I browsed.

I love a themed outfit, so wore a button up shirt and blazer in homage to Angus Young's school uniform. I was going to wear shorts, but I chickened out and decided to keep my outfit inspiration subtle - which I realised was a mistake as soon as I arrived to find some pretty rocking outfits on other visitors. My leopard print wedges weren't completely out of place though....

I was also wearing some stripey nail wraps from Nail Rock, but sadly these didn't last long at all. Mynx nails are around £25, but I've heard they last about eight weeks, so I'll probably go for that next time I want such detailed nails.

Afterwards we had a wander around the museum (I always feel so lucky to have such a beautiful building on my doorstep) and went to the pub to play board games. A rocking end to a rocking day....

Things I don't want to share:

Button up shirt and jeans: Topshop

Shoes and blazer: H&M

Bag: Second hand

Scarf: Vintage